Home Of D’Backs Pitcher Raided In Federal Steroid Probe

Federal agents raided the home of D’Backs P Jason Grimsley yesterday, “seeking
evidence that could identify him as a distributor of human growth hormone [HGH]
 which is illegal but undetectable in urine tests  and other performance-enhancing
drugs,” according to T.J. Quinn of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Baseball officials refused
to comment, “but the fallout from the raid will probably be felt for months: when
Grimsley was first confronted by agents in April, according to documents, he named
names.” A search warrant affidavit said that IRS agents seized HGH from Grimsley
“in a ‘low-key’ search of his home April 19, and he had admitted using HGH, amphetamines
and anabolic steroids.” The affidavit said agents were looking for evidence of
“Grimsley’s and other [MLBers] illegal receipt of prescription drugs, anabolic
steroids, [HGH] and amphetamines, the illegal distribution of such drugs, and
the money laundering of the proceeds of said transactions.” Both raids were led
by IRS special agent Jeff Novitzky, who also pursued the BALCO case. MLB VP/PR
Rich Levin said that the league “had only recently become aware of the raid and
had no comment” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/7). D’Backs Managing General Partner
Ken Kendrick in a statement said, “This is a federal investigation, and as long
as it is active and ongoing, we are prohibited from making any further comments”
(D’Backs).